Multifunction baffles and work equipment transmissions containing the same

Abstract

Multifunction baffles and work equipment transmissions containing multifunction baffles are provided. In various embodiments, the work equipment transmission includes a gearbox housing having an outlet port, a sump retaining a lubricant reservoir, and a first gear rotatably mounted in the gearbox housing such that a portion of the first gear is located below an upper surface of the lubricant reservoir. A multifunction baffle, which is installed within the gearbox housing, includes a circumferential shroud wall and an integrated suction tube. The integrated suction tube includes, in turn, a suction tube body integrally formed with the circumferential shroud wall, an inlet end portion in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir, an outlet end portion in fluid communication with the outlet port, and a lubricant flow passage within the suction tube body and through which the lubricant is drawn from the lubricant reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A work equipment transmission, comprising:
 a gearbox housing having an outlet port; 
 a sump within the gearbox housing and retaining a lubricant reservoir when filled with a lubricant; 
 a first gear mounted to a shaft in the gearbox housing for rotation about a first axis, a portion of the first gear located below an upper surface of the lubricant reservoir; and 
 a multifunction baffle installed within the gearbox housing, the multifunction baffle comprising:
 a circumferential shroud wall extending into the lubricant reservoir and at least partially around an outer periphery of the first gear; and 
 an integrated suction tube including a suction tube body integrally formed with the circumferential shroud wall, an inlet end portion in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir, an outlet end portion in fluid communication with the outlet port, a lubricant flow passage extending within the suction tube body from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion and through which the lubricant is drawn from the lubricant reservoir, and an annular cover piece circumscribed by the circumferential shroud wall and having a central opening through which the shaft extends. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The work equipment transmission of  claim 1 , further comprising a second gear mounted in the gearbox housing for rotation about a second axis parallel with the first axis;
 wherein the multifunction baffle further comprises a shroud window formed in the circumferential shroud wall and through which the second gear meshes with the first gear. 
 
     
     
       3. The work equipment transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the multifunction baffle further comprises:
 an annular endwall extending from a peripheral edge of the circumferential shroud wall in a radially-inward direction; 
 a central opening formed in the annular endwall; and 
 a tubular collar projecting from the annular endwall in an axial direction opposite the circumferential shroud wall. 
 
     
     
       4. The work equipment transmission of  claim 3 , further comprising an output shaft to which the first gear is mounted in a rotationally-fixed relationship, the output shaft extending through the central opening formed in the annular endwall. 
     
     
       5. The work equipment transmission of  claim 3 , wherein the annular endwall, the tubular collar, the circumferential shroud wall, and the suction tube body are integrally formed as a single molded piece. 
     
     
       6. The work equipment transmission of  claim 3 , further comprising a collar window formed in the tubular collar and positioned to allow lubricant flow into the tubular collar from above the multifunction baffle during operation of the work equipment transmission. 
     
     
       7. The work equipment transmission of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a shaft to which the second gear is mounted in a rotationally-fixed relationship; and 
 a third gear mounted to the shaft and having a lower portion extending into the collar window. 
 
     
     
       8. A work equipment transmission, comprising:
 a gearbox housing having an outlet port; 
 a sump within the gearbox housing and retaining a lubricant reservoir when filled with a lubricant; 
 a first gear mounted in the gearbox housing for rotation about a first axis, a portion of the first gear located below an upper surface of the lubricant reservoir; and 
 a multifunction baffle installed within the gearbox housing, the multifunction baffle comprising:
 a circumferential shroud wall extending into the lubricant reservoir and at least partially around an outer periphery of the first gear; and 
 an integrated suction tube including a suction tube body integrally formed with the circumferential shroud wall, an inlet end portion in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir, an outlet end portion in fluid communication with the outlet port, and a lubricant flow passage extending within the suction tube body from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion and through which the lubricant is drawn from the lubricant reservoir; 
 wherein the gearbox housing further comprises: 
 a forward housing piece; and 
 an aft housing piece mated to the forward housing piece when the gearbox housing is assembled; and 
 
 wherein the multifunction baffle further comprises:
 a base portion beneath the circumferential shroud wall and integrally formed therewith; and 
 a tab projecting from the base portion, the tab captured between the forward housing piece and the aft housing piece to restrict movement of the multifunction baffle within the gearbox housing. 
 
 
     
     
       9. A work equipment transmission, comprising:
 a gearbox housing having an outlet port; 
 a sump within the gearbox housing and retaining a lubricant reservoir when filled with a lubricant; 
 a first gear mounted in the gearbox housing for rotation about a first axis, a portion of the first gear located below an upper surface of the lubricant reservoir; and 
 a multifunction baffle installed within the gearbox housing, the multifunction baffle comprising:
 a circumferential shroud wall extending into the lubricant reservoir and at least partially around an outer periphery of the first gear; and 
 an integrated suction tube including a suction tube body integrally formed with the circumferential shroud wall, an inlet end portion in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir, an outlet end portion in fluid communication with the outlet port, and a lubricant flow passage extending within the suction tube body from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion and through which the lubricant is drawn from the lubricant reservoir; 
 wherein the suction tube body is composed of a first material; and 
 wherein the multifunction baffle further comprises a suction tube liner embedded within the suction tube body, defining at least a portion of the lubricant flow passage, and composed of a second material different than the first material. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The work equipment transmission of  claim 9 , wherein the suction tube body is over-molded around the suction tube liner; and
 wherein the second material has a melt point higher than that of the first material. 
 
     
     
       11. The work equipment transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet end portion of the integrated suction tube comprises:
 a lubricant outlet through which the lubricant is discharged from the multifunction baffle; and 
 a resilient feature integrally formed with the suction tube body adjacent the lubricant outlet and engaged into the outlet port. 
 
     
     
       12. The work equipment transmission of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient feature comprises a plurality of resilient fingers distributed around the lubricant outlet; and
 wherein the lubricant output port comprises an annular groove in which the plurality of resilient fingers register when the outlet end portion of the integrated suction tube is inserted into the lubricant output port. 
 
     
     
       13. The work equipment transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the multifunction baffle further comprises an inner peripheral groove formed in an inner surface of the circumferential shroud wall; and
 wherein the annular cover piece comprises an outer peripheral edge received within the inner peripheral groove when the annular cover piece is positioned within the circumferential shroud wall. 
 
     
     
       14. The work equipment transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the gearbox housing comprises a forward housing piece having an annular boss to which the shaft is rotatably mounted, the annular cover piece located between the annular boss and the first gear as taken along the first rotational axis; and
 wherein the annular cover piece comprises an annular lip extending around the central opening and engaging the annular boss to position the annular cover piece relative to the annular boss. 
 
     
     
       15. The work equipment transmission of  claim 1 , further comprising a lubricant distribution channel formed in the shaft, having an inlet formed in an end portion of the shaft, and having an outlet formed in an intermediate portion of the shaft; and
 wherein the multifunction baffle circumscribes the intermediate portion of the shaft such that the lubricant, when directed through the lubricant distribution channel, is conducted into an interior of the multifunction baffle. 
 
     
     
       16. The work equipment transmission of  claim 1 , further comprising a tubular screen insert positioned in the outlet port and extending into the outlet end portion of the integrated suction tube;
 wherein the outlet end portion of the integrated suction tube comprises:
 a lubricant outlet in fluid communication with the outlet port; and 
 a blind lobe opposite the lubricant outlet and imparting the outlet end portion with a T-shaped geometry, the tubular screen insert extending through the lubricant outlet and into the blind lobe. 
 
 
     
     
       17. A work equipment transmission, comprising:
 a gearbox housing having an outlet port; 
 a sump within the gearbox housing and retaining a lubricant reservoir when filled with a lubricant; 
 a first gear mounted in the gearbox housing for rotation about a first axis, a portion of the first gear located below an upper surface of the lubricant reservoir; and 
 a multifunction baffle installed within the gearbox housing, the multifunction baffle comprising:
 a circumferential shroud wall extending into the lubricant reservoir and at least partially around an outer periphery of the first gear; 
 an annular endwall partially enclosing a first end portion of the circumferential shroud wall; 
 an annular cover piece matingly inserted into a second, opposing end portion of the circumferential shroud wall; and 
 a tubular collar projecting from the annular endwall in an axial direction opposite the circumferential shroud wall. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The work equipment transmission of  claim 17 , wherein the multifunction baffle further comprises a suction tube, the suction tube comprising:
 a suction tube body integrally formed with the circumferential shroud wall; 
 an inlet end portion in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir; 
 an outlet end portion in fluid communication with the outlet port; and 
 a lubricant flow passage extending within the suction tube body from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion and through which the lubricant is drawn the lubricant reservoir during operation of the work equipment transmission. 
 
     
     
       19. A multifunction baffle for installation in a work equipment transmission including a gearbox housing having an outlet port, a sump within the gearbox housing and retaining a lubricant reservoir when filled with a lubricant, and a first gear mounted in the gearbox housing for rotation about a first axis at a location partially below an upper surface of the lubricant reservoir, the multifunction baffle comprising:
 a circumferential shroud wall extending into the lubricant reservoir and at least partially around an outer periphery of the first gear when the multifunction baffle is installed within the work equipment transmission; and 
 an integrated suction tube, comprising:
 a suction tube body integrally formed with the circumferential shroud wall; 
 an inlet end portion in fluid communication with the lubricant reservoir when the multifunction baffle is installed within the work equipment transmission; 
 an outlet end portion in fluid communication with the outlet port when the multifunction baffle is installed within the work equipment transmission, wherein the outlet end portion comprises:
 a lubricant outlet through which the lubricant is discharged from the multifunction baffle; and 
 a resilient feature integrally formed with the suction tube body adjacent the lubricant outlet and engaged into the outlet port; and 
 
 a lubricant flow passage extending within the suction tube body from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion and through which the lubricant is drawn the lubricant reservoir.